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STATE  PUBLIC 


UTILITIES  COMMISSION 


OF 


ILLINOIS 


RULES 

Establishing  Standards  of  Service  for  Gas  and 
Electric  Utilities. 


Adopted   by   the  Commission  and   Effective  November  1,  1914. 


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STATE  PtS^ElC 


UTILITIES  COMMISSION 


OF 


ILLINOIS 


RULES 

Establishing  Standards  of  Service  for  Gas  and 
F^lectric  Utilities. 


Adopted    by    the    Commission  and    F^ffective   November    1,    1914. 


Springi-ield.  III. 

ScHNEpp  &  Barnes,   State  Printers 

1914 


J.    RULES  ESTABLISHING  STANDARDS  OF  SERVICE 
^  FOR  GAS  AND   ELECTRIC   UTILITIES   IN 

3  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 


PRELIMINARY. 


I.     Statutory. 


The   Illinois   Public   Utilities  Law,   Act   of  1913,   contains  the 
followinf^  I »i'o visions  : 

§  10.  Definitions. — The  term  "service,"  when  used  in  this  Act, 
is  used  in  its  broadest  and  most  inclusive  sense,  and  includes  not 
only  the  use  or  accommodation  afforded  consumers  or  patnuis.  but 
also  any  prorhict  <ir  commodity  furnished  by  any  public  utilit>  and 
the  plant,  e<iuii)ment,  apparatus,  appliances,  property  and  fa<'ilities 
employed  by,  or  in  connection  with,  any  public  utility  in  perform- 
ing any  service  or  in  furnishiu}]:  any  product  or  commodity  and 
devoted  to  the  purposes  in  which  such  public  utility  is  engaired  jind 
to  the  use  and  accommodation  of  the  public. 

§  54.  Stand.\rds  of  Service. — The  commission  shall  have  power 
to  ascertain,  determine  and  fix  for  each  kind  of  public  utility  suit- 
able and  convenient  standanl  commercial  units  of  service,  piotluct 
or  commodity,  whieh  units  shall  be  lawful  units  for  the  purposes 
of  this  Act;  to  ascertain,  determine  and  fix  adequate  and  service- 
able standards  for  the  measurement  of  (piantity.  quality,  pn-ssure, 
initial  voltage  or  other  condition  pertaining  to  the  performinf  of 
its  service  or  to  the  furnishing  of  its  product  or  commodity  by  any 
public  utility,  and  to  j^rescribe  reasonable  regulations  for  examin- 
ing, measuring  and  testing  such  service,  product  or  commodity,  and 
to  establish  reasonable  rules,  regulations,  specifications  and  stand- 
►—  ards  to  .secure  the  accuracy  of  all  metei"s  and  appliances  for  exam- 
—   ining,  measuring,  or  testing  such  service,  product  or  commodity. 

II.     Authorization  of  Rules. 

^  In    a'X'ordance    with    ihe    >i,iiiiLiM_\     jn  >  i\  im' 'ii>    m    ^    ■>  ■.    .iii<i\.-, 

oc   the    attached     rules    establishing    standards     for    gas    and     electric 
O    ser\  ice  have  been  prei)ared,  ajjjintved  by  the  cnmmissi<>'i   and  l)e- 
conie  efiFecti\e  on  N'ovember  1,  1914. 

^    III.     Application  of  Rules.  * 

^  These   lilies  shall   appl>'   to  any  public  utility'  defined   as  such 

by  ihe   Illinois   Publie  Utilities  Commission  Law,  which   is  now  or 
liert-aftei-  n)ay   be  engaged   in  the   production,  sale   or  distribution 

2     VCR 


of  gas  ov  electricity  and  wliicli  coDies  uiidci-  tlic  jiiiisdiction  of  tlie 
comtnissiuii. 

IV.  Saving  Clause. 

The  aduption  of  these  rules  shall  in  nu  way  iireclude  the  com- 
mission from  altering  or  amending  the  same,  in  whole  or  iu  part, 
or  from  requiring  any  other  oi-  additional  service,  equipment, 
facility  or  standard,  either  upon  complaint  or  upon  its  own  motion, 
or  upon  the  application  of  any  utility:  and,  furthermore,  tlu'se 
rules  shall  iu  uo  way  relieve  any  utility  from  any  of  its  duties 
under  the  laws  of  this  State. 

If  any  utility  has  been  supplying  or  is  under  contract  to  sui)i)ly 
a  quality  of  service  of  greater  value  to  the  consumer  than  that 
which  these  rules  require,  no  reduction  in  such  quality  of  service 
shall  be  made  by  the  utility  before  a  determination  by  the  commis- 
sion of  the  proper  rate  to  be  charged  the  consumer  for  the  lower 
grade  of  service.  Such  a  rate  shall,  in  general,  be  based  upon  the 
cost  of  furnishing  the  grade  of  service  i-eipni-ed  by  these  rules. 

V.  Definitions . 

The  word  "utilitj^"  used  in  these  rules,  shall  be  construed  to 
mean  public  utility. 

The  word  ' '  commission, ' '  used  in  these  rules,  shall  be  construed 
to  mean  the  State  Public  Utilities  Commission  of  Illinois. 

The  word  "consumer,"  used  in  these  rules,  shall  be  construed 
to  mean  any  person,  firm  or  corporation  supplied  by  any  utility 
with  gas  or  electricity. 


GENERAL  SERVICE  RULES. 

Rule  1.     Records  and  Reports. 

All  iv<M»rds  required  by  these  rules  shall  be  preserved  for  at 
least  thrte  > ears  after  they  are  made.  Such  records  shall  be  kept 
withiu  thi'  State,  at  an  office  or  offices  of  the  utility  located  in  the 
territory  served  by  it.  and  shall  be  open  for  exaiiiinatiou  by  the 
commission  or  its  representative.  Each  utility  shall  notify  the 
commission  <»f  the  office  or  offices  at  which  the  various  cla.sses  of 
records  ar*^-  kept  and  shall  file  with  the  commission  such  reports  as 
the  commission  may  from  time  to  time  require. 

Rule  2,     Testing  Facilities. 

til:  Each  ulilil\  .shall,  unless  specifically  excused  by  the  com- 
mission, provide  such  laboratory,  meter-test injr  shop  and  other 
equipment  and  facilities  as  may  be  necessary  t(»  nuike  the  tests 
required  by  these  rules  or  other  orders  of  the  eonimi.ssion.  The 
ap])aratus  and  equipment  so  provided  shall  be  at  all  times  avail- 
able for  the  inspectittn  or^y^v  of  any  member  or  aulh'>ri/.cd  repre- 
sentative of  tKe  commissionr 

(b)  Each  utility  shall  make  such  tests  as  are  j)rescribed  under 
these  rules  with  such  frequency  and  in  such  manner  and  at  such 
places  as  may  be  approved  by  the  commission. 

Rule  3.     Bequest  Tests. 

Each  utility  furnishing  metered  service  shall  make  a  test  of 
the  accuracy  of  any  meter,  u|)on  written  request  l»y  a  consumer: 
Provided,  first,  that  the  meter  in  question  has  not  been  tested  bv 
the  utility  or  by  the  eommissi(»n  within  six  months  previous  to  such 
re<juest;  aiid  second,  that  the  consumer  will  a^'ree  to  accept  the 
result  of  the  test  nmde  by  the  utility  as  determining  the  basis  for 
settling  the  difference  claimed.  No  charge  shall  be  made  to  the 
consumer  for  any  such  test.  A  report,  giving  the  result  of  every 
such  te.st,  shall  l>e  made  to  the  consuniei-. 

Rule  4.     Adjustment  of  Bills  for  Meter  Error. 

If  on  any  test  of  a  service  meter,  either  by  the  utility  or  by 
the  commission,  such  meter  shall  be  found  to  have  a  percentage  of 
error  greater  than  that  allowed  in  Rule  11  (c)  for  gas  meters,  or 
Rule  22  (e)  for  watt-hour  meters,  the  following  provisions  for  the 
adjustment  of  bills  .shall  be  observed : 

(a)  Fast  Meters. — If  the  meter  is  faster  than  allowable,  the 
utility  shall  refund  to  the  consumer  a  percentage  of  the  amount 
of  his  bills  for  the  six  months  jtrevious  to  the  test  or  for  the  time 
the  meter  was  installed,  not  exceeding  six  months,  corresponding 
to  the  percentage  of  error  of  the  meter.  No  part  of  a  minimum, 
service  or  demand  charge  need  be  refunded. 

(b)  Slow  Meters. — It  the  meter  is  found  not  to  register  or  to 
run  slow,  the  utility  may  render  a  bill  to  the  consumer  for  the 


6 

estimated  consumption  during  the  preceding  six  months,  not  cov- 
ered by  bills  previously  rendered,  but  such  action  shall  be  taken 
only  in  cases  of  substantial  imi)ortanfe  where  the  utility  is  not  at 
fault  for  allowinsf  the  incorrect  meter  to  be  in  service. 

Rule  5.     Records  of  Tests  and  of  Meters. 

(aj  Service  Test  Record. — A  complete  record  of  the  quality 
and  condition  of  service  shall  be  kept  by  each  utility.  The  record 
so  kept  shall  contain  complete  information  concernintr  each  test, 
including  the  date  and  hour  when  and  the  place  where  the  test 
was  made,  the  name  of  the  inspector  conducting  the  test,  the  result 
of  the  test  and  such  other  information  as  may  be  required  by  these 
rules,  or  as  the  commission  may  from  time  to  time  direct,  or  as  the 
utility  making  the  test  may  deem  desirable. 

(b)  Meter  Test  Record. — Whenever  any  service  meter  is 
tested,  the  original  test  record  shall  be  preserved  containing  the 
information  necessary  for  identifying  the  meter,  the  reason  for 
making  the  test,  the  reading  of  the  meter  upon  removal  from 
service  and  the  result  of  the  test,  together  with  all  data  taken  at 
the  time  of  the  test  in  sufficiently  complete  form  to  permit  the  con- 
venient cheeking  of  the  methods  employed  and  the  calculations. 

(c)  Meter  Record. — A  record  shall  also  be  kept,  numerically 
arranged,  giving  for  each  meter  owned  or  used  by  any  utility,  the 
date  of  purchase,  its  identification,  and  the  repairs  and  tests  to 
which  it  has  been  subjected,  with  dates  and  general  results  of  all 
tests. 

(d)  Tabulation  of  Meter  Tests. — Monthly  and  annual  tabula- 
tions of  the  results  of  all  meter  tests  shall  be  made,  arranged 
according  to  types  of  meters  and  intervals  of  test. 

Rule  6.     Meter  Readings  on  Bills. 

Bills  rendered  periodically  to  consumers  for  metered  service 
shall  show  the  readings  of  the  meter  at  the  beginning  and  end  of 
the  period  for  which  the  bill  is  rendered,  the  number  and  kinds  of 
units  of  service  supplied,  the  dates  of  the  meter  readings  and  the 
price  per  unit  of  service.  On  all  bills  which  are  computed  on  any 
other  basis  than  a  definite  charge  per  unit  of  service,  the  other 
factors  used  in  computing  the  bill  shall  be  clearly  stated  so  that 
the  amount  may  be  readily  computed  from  the  information  appear- 
ing upon  the  bill. 

Rule  7.     Complaints. 

Each  utility  shall  make  a  Avritten  acknowledgment  to  consum- 
ers of  the  receipt  of  all  complaints:  shall  make  a  full  and  prompt 
investigation  of  all  such  complaints,  and  shall  keep  a  record  which 
shall  show  the  name  and  address  of  the  complainant,  the  date  and 
nature  of  the  complaint,  and  the  adjustment  or  disposal  thereof. 

Rule  8.     Interruptions  of  Service. 

Each  utility  shall  inakc  all  reasonable  effoi-ts  t(t  diiMijiate  in- 
terruptions   of   service   and    when    such    interru]~)tious    occur    shall 


eiuieuvor  to  re-establish  service  with  the  shortest  possil.h-  dehiv . 
Wlieuever  the  service  is  interrupted  for  the  purpose  of  wcrkin^  on 
the  distril)uti(»u  svstem  or  the  station  equipment,  this  sliall  l>e  done 
at  a  time  which  will  cause  the  least  inconvenience  to  consumers  and 
those  most  seriously  affected  by  such  interruption  shall,  it  possilile. 
be  notitled   in   advance. 


SPECIAL    GAS    SERVICE    RULES. 

Rule  9.     Definition  of  a  Cubic  Foot  of  Gas. 

For  testing  purposes,  a  cubic  foot  of  gas  shall  be  taken  t<;  be 
the  amount  of  gas  in  a  volume  of  one  cubic  foot  when  saturated 
with  water  vapor,  at  sixty  degrees  Fahrenheit,  and  at  a  pressure 
of  thirty  inches  of  mercury. 

For  purpose  of  measurement  to  a  consumer,  a  cubic  toot  oi 
gas  shall  be  the  amount  of  gas  in  a  volume  of  one  cubic  foot  under 
the  conditions  existing  in  such  consumer's  meter  as  and  where 
installed ;  provided  consumer's  meter  shall  not  be  set  so  close 
to  any  source  of  artificial  heat  as  to  subject  them  to  a  temperature 
exceeding  seventy-five  degrees  Fahrenheit. 

Rule  10.     Meter  Testing  Equipment. 

Each  utility  furnishing  metered  gas  service  shall  own  an 
approved  meter  prover  of  not  less  than  five  cubic  feet  capacity,  and 
shall  maintain  the  same  in  proper  adjustment  to  register  the  accu- 
racy of  the  meters  to  within  one-half  per  cent  (><7f''.  The  meter 
prover  shall  be  so  placed  as  to  be  shielded  from  excessive  tempera- 
ture variations  and  shall  be  equipped  with  suitable  thermometers 
and  other  necessary  accessories. 

The  accuracy  of  all  pro  vers  and  methods  of  operating  same 
may  be  established  from  time  to  time  by  a  representative  of  the 
commission.  All  alterations,  accidents  or  repairs  which  might 
affect  the  accuracy  of  a  prover  or  the  method  of  operating  same 
shall  be  promptly  reported  in  writing  to  the  commission. 

Rule  11.     Gas  Meter  Accuracy. 

(a)  Method  of  Testing. — All  tests  to  determine  the  accuracy 
of  registration  of  a  gas  service  meter  shall  be  made  Avith  a  suitable 
meter  prover.  At  least  two  test  runs  shall  be  made  <>n  each  meter, 
the  results  of  which  shall  aeree  with  each  other  Avithin  one-half 
per  cent   (j^^f). 

(b)  Installation  Test. — Every  gas  service  meter,  whether 
new,  repaired,  or  removed  from  service  for  any  cause,  when  in- 
stalled for  the  use  of  any  consumer  shall  be  in  good  order  and  shall 
have  been  adjusted  to  be  not  more  than  one  per  cent  (1%)  in  error 
when  passing  gas  at  six  (6)  cubic  feet  per  hour  per  rated  light 
capacity.  Each  such  meter  shall  be  marked  by  the  utility  testing 
it  with  the  date  of  the  last  test  made  on  that  meter. 

(c)  Allowable  Error. — Whenever  a  meter  is  tested  to  deter- 
mine the  accuracy  with  which  it  has  been  registering  in  service,  it 
may  be  considered  as  correct  if  found  not  more  than  two  per  cent 
(2%)  in  eiTor,  and  no  adjustment  of  charges  sliall  be  entailed 
unless  the  error  is  greater  than  this  amount. 

(d)  Prepayment  Meters. — No  utility  shall  use  prepayment 
meters  geared  or  set  so  as  to  cause  a  rate  or  amount  higher  than 


9 

woulil  be  paitl  if  a  stau«lai-(l  nu'ter  wa.s  in  use,  miU'Ss  the  eonstMit  of 
I  Ik*  coininissiou  is  lii'st  <»l>tained  iu  wi-itin<r. 

Rule  12.     Periodic  Tests  of  Gas  Meters. 

No  gas  service  meter  hereafter  installed  shall  be  alli.wcd  to 
remain  in  service  more  than  five  years  from  the  time  when  last 
testecl  without  bi*in<r  re-tested,  as  specified  iu  Ixwle  10,  and  if  neces- 
sary readjusted  to  be  correct  within  (tne  ])er  cent  (  1 '"  i  iK-torc 
being  set  for  use. 

Ihirinj^  each  i)eriud  of  twelve  months  after  these  rules  take 
effect,  until  all  meters  now  in  service  shall  have  been  tested,  each 
gas  utilit.v  shall  remove  and  test  not  less  than  twenty  i>er  cent  of 
all  meters  now  in  service,  those  longest  in  service  beint'  remnved 
first. 

Rule  13.     Referee  Tests. 

L'pou  written  api)licatiou  to  the  commission  by  a  consumer  a 
test  will  be  nuide  of  said  consumer's  meter,  as  soon  as  practicable, 
by  an  inspector  employed  by  the  commission.  The  appli'-ation  for 
such  test  shall  be  accompanied  by  a  remittance  of  the  amnunt  fixed 
below  as  the  fee  for  such  test.  If  the  meter  is  found  t*>  be  more 
than  two  per  cent  (v%  )  fast,  this  fee  shall  be  paid  to  the  consumer 
by  the  utility. 

The  fees  for  referee  meter  tests  are: 

Not  exceeding  ten  lights  capacity,  each -t-.W 

Exceeding   ten   lights,   but   not  exceeding   forty- 
five  liglils  capacity,  each 4.(X) 

Exceedinjr  f<>ity-flve  litrhts  capacity,  each 8.(X) 

This  rule  shall  not  interfere  with  the  practice  of  a  utility  in 
its  tests  of  gas  .service  meters,  except  that  in  the  event  of  a  written 
apj>lication  to  the  commi.ssion  by  a  consumer  for  a  referee  test  the 
utility  shall  not  remove  or  interfere  with  said  meter  Avithout  the 
consent  previously  given  in  writintr  of  the  consumer. 

Rule  14.     Calorimeter  Equipment. 

Each  utilit.N  whose  tras  output  exceeds  twent\  million  cid>ic  feet 
per  year  shall  ('<|uip  itself  with  a  complete  standard  calorimeter 
outfit  of  a  type  approved  by  the  commission  and  shall  test  ti'.c 
heating  val.ue  of  gas  supplied,  using  methods  of  test  in  acc<»rdance 
with  the  best  practice.  The  heating  value  of  manufactured  gas 
shall  be  determined  on  at  least  three  days  eacli  week  and  of  natural 
gas  at  least  three  times  a  year. 

Rule  15.     Heating  Value. 

Each  utilit.N  furnishing  manufactured  gas  shall  supply  gas 
which  at  any  point  at  least  one  mile  from  the  plant,  and  tested  in 
the  place  where  it  is  consumed,  shall  have  a  monthly  average  total 
heating  value  of  not  less  than  5G.")  Briti.sh  thermal  units  i)er  cubic 
foot,  and  at  no  time  shall  the  total  heating  value  of  the  gas  at  such 
point  be  le.ss  than  530  British  thermal  units  per  cuhic  foot. 

To  arrive  at  the  monthly  average  total  heating  value,  the  re- 
sults of  all  tests  made  on  anv  one  dav  shall  be  averagfed  and  the 


10 

average  of  all  such  daily  averages  shall  be  taken  as  the  monthly 
average. 

Provided,  further,  that  in  ease  gas  is  carried  by  mains  at  five 
pounds  pressure  or  over  per  square  inch,  there  shall  be  an  allow- 
ance in  the  service  of  such  high  pressure  district  of  35  British  ther 
mal  units  per  cubic  foot  in  the  monthly  average,  and  the  minimum 
heating  value  shall  not  fall  below  520  British  thermal  units  per 
cubic  foot.  No  utility  shall  lower  its  present  standard  heating 
value  without  first  obtaining  in  writing  the  consent  of  the  commis- 
sion. 

Rule  16.     Purity  of  Gas. 

(a)  Hydrodgen  Sulphide. — Manufactured  gas  distributed  in 
this  State  shall  not  contain  more  than  one  grain  of  hydrogen  sul- 
phide per  hundred  cubic  feet.  Any  test  approved  by  the  commission 
may  be  used  for  the  determination  of  hydrogen  sulphide.  This 
puritj^  requirement  will  be  considered  as  satisfied  if  a  strip  of  white 
filter  paper,  recently  moistened  Avith  a  solution  of  100  grains  of 
lead  acetate  in  100  cubic  centimeters  of  water,  be  exposed  to  the 
gas  for  one  and  one-half  minutes  in  an  apparatus  previously  purged 
through  which  the  gas  is  floAving  at  the  rate  of  approximately  tive 
cubic  feet  per  hour,  the  gas  not  impinging  directly  from  a  jet  upon 
the  test  paper,  and  after  this  exposure  the  test  paper  be  found  not 
distinctly  darker  than  a  second  paper  freshly  moistened  with  the 
solution  and  not  exposed  to  the  gas.  Test  papers  shall  be  kept  for 
one  year  by  a  safe  and  secure  method,  and  shall  be  available  to  the 
commission  if  and  when  desired  in  that  period. 

(h)  Total  Sulphur. — Manufactured  gas  distributed  in  this 
State  shall  not  contain  more  than  thirty  grains  of  total  sulphur  per 
hundred  cubic  feet. 

(c)  Tests  of  Gas  Purity. — Each  utility  supplying  manufac- 
tured gas  shall,  for  the  purposes  of  record,  daily  test  the  gas  leav- 
ing its  holders  for  the  presence  of  hydrogen  sulphide  in  the  manner 
specified. 

Each  utility  supplying  manufactured  gas  Avhose  sales  exceed 
fifty  million  cubic  feet  of  gas  per  year  shall  provide  and  maintain 
such  approved  apparatus  and  facilities  as  are  necessa.r.y  for  the 
determination  of  total  sulphur;  and  each  such  utility  shall  at  least 
once  a  week  determine  and  put  on  record  the  amount  of  total  sul- 
I)hur  in  the  gas  distributed  by  it. 

Rule  17.     Pressure  of  Gas. 

(  aj  I'kessuke  \'ariatiox. — The  pressure  of  gas  supplied  by  any 
utility,  as  measured  at  the  outlet  of  any  consumer's  meter,  shall 
not  be  less  than  two  inches  nor  more  than  eight  inches  of  water 
pressure  except  where  greater  pressure  is  specified  and  provided 
for  in  the  contract  between  the  utility  and  the  consumer,  and  pro- 
vided there  be  no  unfair  and  unreasonable  discrimination  or  prefer- 
ences. Within  said  limits  the  daily  variation  of  pressure  at  the 
outlet  of  any  one  meter  on  the  system  shall  never  be  greater  than 
one  hundred  per  cent  of  the  minimum  pressure  at  that  outlet,  pro- 
vided that  variations  in  pressure  entirely  beyond  the  control  of 
the  ulilitv  shall  not  be  considered  as  a  violation  of  this  rule. 


11 

(b)  Pressure  Slrvevs. — Each  gas  utility  shall  provide  itself 
with  oue  or  more  portable  graphic  recording  pressure  gauges  aii<i 
shall  make  frequent  measurements  of  the  gas  pressure  and  of  th'^ 
pressnn'   vjiri.ition  thi-ouL'hout  the  system. 

Rule  18.    Record  of  Interruptions. 

Each  utility  shall  keep  a  record  of  all  interruptions  to  service 
'>n  its  entire  system  ^r  on  any  portion  thereof,  which  record  >hn]\ 
contain  the  time,  cause  if  known,  extent  and  duration  of  the  in- 
terruption. 

Rule  19.     Extension  of  Mains. 

{HI  i>£i-iMnuNs. —  lor  the  purpose  of  this  rule,  a  high  pres- 
sure system  shall  be  taken  to  mean  one  in  which  the  gas  is  carried 
at  a  pressure  of  two  pounds  or  over  per  square  inch  to  the  consum- 
er's premises  where  a  service  gON'ernor  is  installed  to  obtain  a 
reduced  pressure  on  such  f»remis«*s.  A  low  pressure  system  shiiil 
mean  <i  system  in  which  the  crmsumer's  service  is  connoct'-d  directly 
to  a  Miuin  cjirrying  less  than  two  pounds  per  square  ineh  watei- 
pressure. 

(b)  F"ree  Kxte.xsidxs. — Each  utility  shall  up«:)n  written  request 
for  service  by  a  prospective  consumer,  or  a  group  of  prospective 
consumers  located  in  the  same  neighborhood,  make  free  of  charge 
a  street  main  extension  necessary  to  give  service,  provided  that 
the  leuL'th  of  the  entire  extension  is  not  greater  than  that  obtaiued 
by  allowinir  100  feet  per  consum<'i-  for  a  low  pressure  .system  and 
200  feet  ]H'V  consumer  for  a  high  pressure  system. 

(c>  Extensions  Above  Free  Limit. — If  the  main  extension 
requireil  in  order  to  furni.sh  service  at  any  point  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  any  city  or  village,  or  for  any  adjacent  suburb  of 
a  city  or  village,  is  greater  than  the  free  extension  specified  above, 
such  an  extension  shall  be  made  under  the  following  conditions: 
The  utility  may  require  a  deposit  of  the  cost  <»f  the  extension  above 
the  free  limit  and  shall,  in  such  a  ea.se,  refund  an  amount  t^pial  to 
the  cost  of  the  free  main  extension  for  each  adtlitional  consumer 
whose  service  shall  be  taken  off  <»f  the  entire  extension  within  a 
period  of  t»*n  years  from  the  making  of  such  an  extension,  but  at 
no  time  shall  the  rebate  made  exceed  the  original  deposit.  If  the 
extension  is  of  such  length  and  the  prospective  business  which  may 
be  developed  by  it  is  so  meager  as  to  make  it  doubtful  whether 
the  business  from  the  extension  would  ever  pay  a  fair  return  on 
the  investment,  the  facts  shall  be  reported  to  the  commission  for 
investigation  and  determination  as  to  the  reasonableness  of  .such 
extension. 

This  lule  shall  not  be  eonstrued  as  prohibiting  any  utility  from 
making  free  extensions  of  lengths  greater  than  above  specified,  or 
from  providing  a  method  of  return  of  de|)Osits  for  extensions  more 
favorable  to  c«)nsumers.  so  long  as  no  di.scrimination  is  practiced 
between  eonsumers  whose  service  requirements  are  similar. 

(d)  Contr.\ct  For  Service. — l^tilities  will  not  be  required  to 
make  street  main  extensions  as  deseri])ed  in  this  rule  imless  those 
served  by  such  extensions  shall  contract  to  use  the  service  for  at 
least  one  vear. 


13 


SPECIAL    ELECTRIC    SERVICE    RULES. 

Rule  20.     Meter  Testing  Equipment. 

(a)  Working  Standards. — Each  utility  furnishing  metered 
electric  service  shall  provide  for  and  have  available,  suitable  aud 
adequate  facilities  for  testing  its  service  watt-hour  meters.  These 
facilities  shall  be  satisfactory  to  and  approved  by  the  commission 
and  shall,  in  general,  include  a  test  bench  fitted  with  the  necessary 
apparatus  and  such  working  standards  as  are  needed.  Such  work- 
ing standards  will  consist  of  portable  indicating  instruments  and 
watt-hour  meters  known  as  "rotating  standards."  \\'orking  stand- 
ards shall  be  calibrated  periodically  by  reference  to  secondary 
standards  of  known  accuracy  and  shall  either  be  maintained  accu- 
rate to  within  one-half  per  cent  (j^%)  or  the  proper  correction  be 
applied  to  their  readings. 

(b)  Secondary  Standards. — Secondary  standards  of  some 
approved  type  shall  be  owned  and  maintained  by  each  utility  hav- 
ing more  than  one  thousand  meters  in  service.  Utilities  not  requii'ed 
to  possess  such  secondary  standards  shall  have  their  working  stand- 
ards tested  and  calibrated  in  any  properly  equipped  labi  oratory  of 
recognized  standing. 

(c)  Check  Meters.— Utilities  not  required  to  possess  secondary 
standards  shall  make  the  following  provision  for  checking  their 
rotating  standards:  For  each  kind  (alternating  or  continuous  cur- 
rent) of  rotating  standard  a  check  meter  of  suitable  type  and 
capacity  shall  be  provided  and  the  rotating  standards  shall  l)e 
checked  thereby  at  least  once  a  week  while  in  service.  Such  cheek 
meter  may  be  of  the  service  type  and  shall  be  mounted  permanently 
on  the  test  bench.  These  meters  shall  be  adjusted  and  .sealed  by 
an  inspector  of  the  commission  and  shall  be  considered  the  refer- 
ence standard  for  the  utility.  If  this  cheek  shoAvs  the  standard  to 
be  in  error,  it  shall  be  calibrated  in  some  laboratory  of  recognized 
standing. 

(d)  Calibration  Cards. — Each  working  or  secondary  standard 
shall  be  at  all  times  aecom[)anied  by  a  certificate,  signed  by  the 
proper  authority,  giving  the  dat<^  it  was  last  nnlibrjitod  ;nid  tho 
corrections  to  be  applied. 

Rule  21.     Meters — Method  of  Determining  Average  Error. 

'I'he  average  error  of  a  service  watt-honr  meter  sliall  be  deter- 
mined as  follows:  The  error  at  light  load — here  defined  as  apjiroxi- 
mately  ten  per  cent  (10%)  of  the  rated  capacity  of  the  meter — shall 
be  determined  ])y  taking  the  average  of  at  least  two  errors,  deter- 
mined from  as  many  separate  tests  on  the  same  light  load,  which 
errors  must  agree  within  one-half  per  cent  (^%).  The  test  runs 
.shall  be  at  least  thirty  seconds  long. 

In  the  same  manner  the  error  at  heavy  load — here  defined  as  a 
load  of  a])pi'oximately  seventy-five  per  cent  (75%)  of  the  rated 
capacity  of  the  meter — shall  be  determined. 


13 

The  average  error  of  the  meter  shall  then  be  determined  by 
taking  the  average  of  the  error  at  light  load  and  the  error  at  heavy 
load,  proper  account  being  taken  of  the  sign  of  these  two  ci-rors: 
Provided,  that  where  tiie  consumer's  connected  load  does  not  equal 
seventy-five  per  cent  (75%)  of  the  rated  capacity  of  the  metei-.  the 
full  connected  load  may  be  considered  as  heavy  load  for  the  |)ur- 
pose  of  test. 

Rule  22.     Meter  Accuracy. 

(a)  Creeping. — No  watt-hour  meter  which  registers  on  "no 
load"  when  the  applied  voltage  is  less  than  one  hundred  and  ten 
per  cent  (110%)  of  standard  service  voltage  shall  be  placed  in  ser- 
vice or  allowed  to  remain  in  service. 

(b)  Inspection  and  Test  Before  Installation. — No  watt-hour 
meter  shall  be  placed  in  service  which  is  in  any  way  mechanically 
defective  or  which  has  inct)rrect  constants  or  which  has  not  hem 
tested  for  accuracy  of  measurement  an<l  adjusted,  if  necessary,  to 
mfH't  these  requirements: 

Average  error  not  over  2  % . 
Error  at  heavy  load  not  over  1%. 
Error  at  light  load  not  over  4%. 

(c)  Test  for  Correct  Lagging. — Alternating  current  service 
watt-hour  meters,  which  are  to  be  used  on  circuits  sujjplying  in- 
ductive load  shall  also  be  tested  before  installation  at  one  hundred 
per  cent  (100%)  of  rated  current  at  fifty  per  cent  (50'r )  lagging 
power  factor  and,  if  necessary,  adjusted  s(»  that  the  error  will  not 
be  more  than  two  per  cent  (2%). 

(d)  Adjustment  After  Test. — Whenever  a  test  made  by  the 
utility  or  by  the  commission  on  a  service  watt-hour  meter  connected 
in  its  permanent  position  in  place  of  service  shows  that  the  average 
error  is  greater  than  that  specified  above,  the  meter  shall  be  ad- 
justed to  bring  the  average  error  within  the  specified  limits. 

(e)  Allowari.i:  Error. — .\  service  watt-hour  meter  having  an 
average  error  of  not  more  than  four  per  cent  (4%)  may  be  consid- 
ered as  correct   .-ind   nii  .•KliuNtnicnt   I  if  cli.-irL'r'^   xlirill   lit-   tnt;ii1fil   1)^ 
such  an  error 

Rule  23.     Meters — Installation  Tests. 

(a)  Each  watl-li<»ur  meter  shall  be  cheeked  for  ctnTeet  con- 
nection, proper  moehanieal  condition,  suitability  of  location  and 
accuracy  of  measurement  in  its  permanent  position  in  jilaee  of  ser- 
vice within  sixty  days  after  installation. 

(b)  Meters  operating  cm  inductive  circuits  shall  be  tested  on  the 
connected  load  under  conditi<ms  approximatincr  as  nearlx'  as  may 
be  to  heavy  and  light  loads,  as  defined  in  Rule  21.  and  shall  be 
adjnsted.  if  necessary,  so  that  the  average  erroi*  will  not  be  nnu-e 
than  two  per  cent  (2^',  V. 

(c)  Meters  installed  with  instrument  transformers  or  shunts 
must  be  tested  jointly  with  the  transformers  or  shunts:  otherwise 
the  ratio  of  transfoi-mation  of  the  transformers  or  the  ealilu'ation 
of  the  shiuils  must  be  determined  at  least  once  everv  five  vears. 


u 

Rule  24.     Meters — Periodic  Tests. 

Each  watt-liuur  niL'ter  .shall  be  tested  aecordiug  to  the  loUow- 
ing  schetlule  while  couueeted  in  its  periuaueut  position  iu  place  of 
service : 

r  (n)  Two  and  three-wire  cominutating  type  and  mercury  tyi)e 
meters,  up  to  aud  including  fift^'  (50)  amperes  rated  capacity  of 
meter  elt'incut,  shall  be  tested  at  lea.st  once  every  eighteen  (18  > 
HKniths. 

u  {b  I  'i\\(t  and  three-wire  commutatiug  type  and  iiieieui>  i,\p^* 
meters  of  over  tifty  (50)  amperes  rated  capacity  of  meter  element, 
shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  twelve  (12)  mouths. 

"^.  (c;  Two  and  three-wire  single  phase  induction  type  meters, 
up  to  and  including  tweuty-five  (25)  amperes  rated  capacity  of 
meter  elrnicMt.  slndl  be  t(^st(-(]  rit  least  once  evei-y  thirt>  ''30; 
months. 

1/  (d)  Two  and  three-wire  single  phase  induction  type  meters 
of  over  twenty-five  (25)  amperes  rated  capacity'  of  meter  element, 
shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  tAventy-four  (24)  mouths. 

.^  (e)  Self-contained  polyphase  meters,  up  to  and  including 
fifty  (50)  kw.  rated  capacity,  shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every 
eijyhteeu  (18)  months. 

'"  (f)  Self-contained  polyphase  meters  of  over  fifty  (50)  kw. 
rated  eapaeily  shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  twelve  (12) 
months. 

,'  (g)  Polyphase  meters,  connected  through  current  transform- 
ers or  current  and  potential  transformers,  to  circuits  up  to  and 
including  tifty  (50)  kw.  rated  capacity,  shall  be  tested  at  least  once 
every  twentj'-four  (24)  months. 

(h)     Polyphase   meters,   connected   through   current    iransfuiin 
ers,  or  current  and  potential  transformers,   to  circuits  of  over  fifty 
(50)  kw.  rated  capacity,  shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  eighteen 
(18)  months. 

Rule  25.     Referee  Test. 

Any  service  watt-hour  meter  Avill  be  tested  by  an  inspector 
employed  by  the  commission  upon  written  application  by  the  con- 
sumer. For  sncli  a  test  a  fee  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  eommissiou 
by  the  consumei-  when  making  application,  which  fee  shall  be 
}-efunded  to  tlie  consumer  by  the  utility  if  tlie  meter  be  found  more 
tlian  four  per  cent  (4%)  fast,  the  average  error  in  measurement 
being  calculated  as  specified  in  Rule  21. 

The  schedule  of  fees  for  i-eferee  1<'sls  ol'  watt-houi-  meters  is 
as  follows : 

(a)  For  continuous  current  and  single  phase  nu'ters  oper- 
ating on  600  volts  or  less,  up  to  antl  inclmiing 
twenty-five    (.25)    amperes    rated    capacity    of    the 

meter  element,  each ^2.00 

(h)   For   each    additional   fifty    (50)    amperes   or    fraction 

thereof    50 


(c)  For  single  phase  meters  alxnt-  (iOO  volts,  aud  for  poly- 
phase meters,  with  or  without  instrmnent  trans- 
formers, up  to  and  includinj^  twenty-five  ( 25 )  kw. 
rated  capacity  of  the  circuit S3.fX) 

( d;    I'or     each     additional     twenty-five     {25)      kw.     rated 

eaj)aeity,  or  tVa('ti«»n  thereof 3.0U 

Rule  26.     Voltage  Variation. 

Each  utility  supplying  electrical  energy  from  a  constant  poten- 
tial system  shall  adopt  a  standard  service  voltage  for  each  locality 
suj»j»lied  from  such  .system,  the  snitahility  and  adecjuacy  of  which 
volta«:e  may  he  determined  at  any  time  by  the  commission,  and 
every  rea.sonahle  effort  shall  be  made  by  the  use  of  proper  e<|uip- 
ment  and  operation  to  maintain  such  voltage  practically  constant 
at  all  times  during  w  hich  service  is  supplied.  For  service  rendereii 
under  a  lighting  contract,  or  primarily  for  lighting  purposes,  the 
variations  of  voltaj^e  as  measured  at  each  consumers  cutout  shall 
not  exceed  five  per  cent  (5%),  plus  or  minus,  of  the. standard  ser- 
vice voltage  for  that  locality,  for  a  hmger  period  than  one  minute 
at  each  instance,  at  any  time  during'  which  service  is  supplied.  For 
service  rendered  undei-  a  power  eontract,  or  primarily  for  power 
pur])oses,  voltage  \ariations  as  measured  at  the  service  terminal^ 
shall  not  exceed  ten  per  cent  flO';  ),  phis  or  minus,  of  the  standard 
service  voltage  for  that  locality,  fni-  a  li.nLrer  porind  tlufu  <in<'  miuulr 
at  each  instance. 

V^ariations  of  voltage  in  excess  ol  those  sprtilu'd  al)o\i-,  caused 
by  the  operations  of  the  consumer  in  violation  of  his  contract  or 
the  rules  <»f  the  utility,  or  from  causes  beyond  the  control  of  th«- 
utility,  shall  not  be  considered  a  violation  <  f  this  rule. 

Rule  27.     Voltage  Surveys  and  Records. 

Each  utility  shall  provide  itself  with  one  or  more  portable  indi- 
cating voltmeters,  and  each  utility  serving  more  than  2.^0  consip 
shall  have  one  or  more  portable  graphic  recording  voltmeters,  i; 
instruments  to  be  of  an  api)roved  type  and  havint;  a  rauL'i'  suilc«l 
to  the  voltage  .supplied.  Each  utility  shall  make  a  sutTieient  number 
of  voltage  surv»*ys  to  indicate  the  .service  furnished  from  each  trans- 
f«»rmer  and  feeder  and  to  satisfy  the  commission  of  its  comi)liancc 
with  the  voltage  requirements,  and  those  having  gra|ihic  volt- 
meters shall  kee|>  at  least  one  of  these  instruments  in  continuous 
service  at  the  plant,  office  or  some  consumer's  premises. 

Rule  28.     Standard  Frequency. 

Each  utility  supplying  alternating  current  shall  adopt  a  stand- 
ard frequency,  the  suitability  of  which  may  be  determined  by  the 
commission,  and  shall  maintain  this  frequency  within  five  per  cent 
(5%),  plus  or  minus,  of  standard  at  all  times  during  which  service 
is  supplied:  Provided,  liowevcr.  that  momentarv  variation>  of  fre- 
quency of  more  than  five  per  cent  (.5^P.  which  are  clearl>  due  to 
no  lack  of  proper  equipment  or  reasonable  care  on  the  part  of  the 
utility,  shall  not  be  considered  a  violation  of  this  rule. 


16 


Rule  29.     Station  Records. 


Eaeli  utility  shall  keep  a  station  record,  which  shall  show  :  The 
time  of  starting  and  shutting  down  all  generating  units ;  the  time 
of  starting  and  disconnecting  all  street  lighting  circuits;  the  read- 
ings of  such  instruments  at  each  generating  station  and  at  such 
intervals  as  are  necessary  to  determine  the  character  of  the  load; 
all  interruptions  to  service  affecting  the  busbars  or  distribution 
system,  Avith  the  time,  duration,  extent  and  the  cause,  when  known, 
of  the  interruption.  An  interruption  is  here  defined,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  record  only,  as  the  interval  of  time  during  which  the  voltage 
falls  below  fifty  per  cent  (50%)  of  the  standard  voltage. 

Rule  30.     Grounding  of  Secondaries. 

The  rules  contained  in  the  current  edition  of  the  National 
Electrical  Code  regarding  the  grounding  of  secondaries  shall  be 
observed  in  all  new  construction.  Each  utility  shall  adopt  a  plan 
whereby  existing  construction  shall  be  made  to  conform  to  the 
rules  as  expeditiously  as  possible. 

Rule  31.     Extension  of  Lines. 

(a)  Free  Extensions. — Each  utility  shall  upon  written  request 
for  service  by  a  prospective  consumer,  or  a  group  of  prospective 
consumers  located  in  the  same  neighborhood,  make  free  of  charge 
a  line  extension  necessary  to  give  service  and  furnish  free  service 
connection ;  provided,  that  such  line  extension  does  not  require  more 
than  twice  as  many  poles  at  standard  spacing  as  there  are  individual 
api>licants. 

(b)  Extensions  Above  Free  Limit. — If  the  line  extension 
required  in  order  to  furnish  service  at  any  point  within  the 
corporate  limits  of  any  city  or  village,  or  for  any  adjacent  suburb 
of  a  city  or  village,  is  greater  than  the  free  extension  specified 
above,  such  an  extension  shall  be  made  under  the  following  condi- 
tions: The  utility  may  require  a  deposit  of  the  cost  of  the  exten- 
sion above  the  free  limit  and  shall,  in  such  a  case,  refund  an  amount 
equal  to  the  cost  of  the  free  main  extension  for  each  additional 
consumer  whose  service  shall  be  taken  off  of  the  entire  extension 
within  a  period  of  ten  years  from  the  making  of  such  an  extension, 
but  at  no  time  shall  the  rebate  made  exceed  the  original  deposit. 
If  the  extension  is  of  such  length  and  the  prospective  business  Avhich 
may  be  developed  by  it  is  so  meager  as  to  make  it  doubtful  Avhether 
the  business  from  the  extension  would  ever  pay  a  fair  return  on 
the  investment,  the  facts  shall  be  reported  to  the  commission  for 
investigation  and  determination  as  to  the  I'easonableness  of  such 
extension. 

This  rule  shall  not  be  construed  as  prohibiting  any  utility  from 
making  free  extensions  of  lengths  greater  than  above  specified,  or 
from  providing  a  method  of  return  of  deposits  for  extensions  more 
favorable  to  consumers,  so  long  as  no  discrimination  is  practiced 
betAveen  consumers  Avhose  service  requirements  are  similar. 

(c)  Contract  for  Service. — Utilities  will  not  be  required  to 


17 

make  line  extensions  us  described  in  this  rule  unless  those  to  be 
served  by  such  extensions  shall  contract  to  use  the  service  for  at 
least  one  year. 


By  order  of  the  Commission,  this  24th  day  of  September,  1914. 
Dated  at  Springfield.  Illinois. 

R.  V.  Prather, 

fSE.^L.l  Acthii^  Srcrctarx 


UNWEBSfTY  OF  'U-'»*0»^nB*NA 


3  0112  084208948 


